- J.M. Smucker’s lawsuit against Trader Joe’s over alleged copycats of Uncrustables, filed against the grocer last October, will move forward.
- This suit over PB&J pockets is one of many ongoing infringement suits, including those filed by Mondelez and Buc-ee’s.
A judge has ruled that the saga over peanut butter & jelly empanada copying between J.M. Smucker, owner of the billion-dollar Uncrustables brand, and grocer Trader Joe’s can continue.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge John Adams ruled that Smucker had devoted a significant amount of resources to develop and protect the “Uncrustables” brand over the past 20 years. Furthermore, Adams said that customers have come to associate Uncrustables’ design trademarks with the brand.
Smucker filed the suit against Trader Joe’s last October.
Trader Joe’s claims its frozen sandwiches aren’t the same round shape as Uncrustables, describing their form as “squircle,” or squared with rounded shapes. Furthermore, Trader Joe’s argues that, since Uncrustables’ current packaging was introduced in 2024, it isn’t famous enough for Smucker to claim federal trademark dilution.
The quirky grocer also requested that the case be moved to California, where both Trader Joe’s and its supplier are located. The judge declined.
Smucker is seeking to stop Trader Joe’s from continuing to sell its version of frozen pouch sandwiches, as well as restitution and legal fees. Additionally, the Uncrustables maker is also asking for Trader Joe’s to deliver product, containers, labels, and packaging to Smucker for destruction.
The saga over Uncrustables is the latest in CPG copycat allegations. Last summer, Mondelez filed a lawsuit against grocery chain Aldi over packaging similarities.
In November of 2025, gas station chain Buc-ee’s went after the apparel brand Nut Huggers. Buc-ee’s aggressiveness against small businesses with animal cartoon mascots was recently called out by comedian John Oliver on his HBO show, Last Week Tonight, where he launched a parody brand called “Buc-off,” selling merch with proceeds supporting Hunger Free America. Oliver also dared Buc-ee’s to sue him, though Buc-ee’s General Counsel Jeff Nadalo told The Dallas Morning News the Texas gas station brand has no intention of doing so.
